By Andy Ostmeyer
aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com
Standing in a sharp north wind, Michele Maxson looked over the empty lot at 819 S. Picher Ave., where her new home is being planned.
“I’ve never really owned anything,” she said Monday.
The 36-year-old mother of three is renting a home in Joplin, but she has had to get through this winter — one of the coldest in years — relying on electric space heaters.
“My heating system is completely down. ... You just layer up,” she said, “and lots of blankets.”
Maxson has been chosen for the 30th Habitat for Humanity house to be built in the Joplin area. Work is expected to get under way this spring. For Maxson, the home represents “something permanent.”
Besides working at a grocery store and raising children, Maxson, a single mother, also will have to donate 200 hours of what Habitat calls “sweat equity.” She already has been working at Habitat’s ReStore at 315 Black Cat Road to fulfill that requirement.
When her house is done, most likely this summer, Maxson will have a new, 1,200-square-foot home, with three bedrooms instead of two.
Payments on most Habitat houses average around $300 per month, said Scott Clayton, executive director of Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity. Many Habitat owners get newer, often larger homes for less money than they have been paying for rent.
Maxson said she is paying $375 per month to rent her current home, but coming up with a down payment to buy a home of her own has been a hurdle.
“As a single mother, it’s tough to do that,” she said.
Also on hand at the empty lot Monday morning was Fred Osborn, president of Commerce Bank in Joplin. He is a Habitat volunteer and a member of the board of directors for the local Habitat group.
Osborn said Commerce has been a strong supporter of Habitat for years, both locally and in other communities, and is making an additional $4,000 contribution to the local efforts.
Maxson’s soon-to-be neighbor also is a Habitat recipient. That house at 821 S. Picher Ave. was built entirely by women and was the first such project for Habitat locally.
“It’s an extremely good deal,” said Lanny Peavler, who was at the home next door, watching his two grandsons. That house was built for his daughter Kelly Leondelapaz. Another Habitat house, built earlier at 13th Street and Jackson Avenue, was built for another of his daughters.
“Everybody may think they are giving these houses to them. They are not giving these houses to them,” said Peavler, referring to the recipients. “They are having to make a payment ... but there is no way they could go out there and have enough money for a down payment.”
“It has helped out a lot of people,” added Virginia Peavler, who was helping watch her grandchildren.
While donations and volunteers do the heavy lifting, there’s a lot of coordination going on behind the scenes.
Clayton said it takes at least $30,000 to get a house going, “so we feel comfortable that we have enough to complete the house.”
The Kemper Foundation — the Kemper family is affiliated with Commerce Bank — made a $24,000 donation several years ago to help out with a project at 810 S. Monroe Ave.
And, Wells Fargo Housing Foundation made a $30,000 donation last year for Habitat’s work in Joplin.
Organizing volunteers is no easy trick, either. It can take 100 to 150 people working multiple weekends to finish a house, and it still takes skilled professionals to handle the trickier tasks, such as wiring.
Clayton said 11 more lots have been donated to Joplin Habitat for future projects as resources allow.
“This is a community effort,” said Clayton. “A lot of individuals have to give up their time and work hard to make it happen. What makes this all worthwhile is seeing Michele and seeing what she is going to work for.”
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for someone who can’t afford to take on owning their own home,” said Maxson. “It’s more special because you put your time and effort into it.”
Andy Ostmeyer is the metro editor for The Joplin Globe.
Want to help?
To help or learn more, people may go to www.joplinhabitat.org or call 782-6533.
